3 defending PIAA volleyball champions win

CORAOPOLIS, PA (AP) -- All three returning champions advanced to the PIAA girls volleyball championship round in Friday's semifinal round robin at Robert Morris College. But not all three can win another state title.
Allentown Central Catholic won the PIAA Class AAA title last year, but have since dropped to Class AA. That sets up a possible match-up with Merion Mercy, last year's Class AA champion, in Saturday's title match.
"Class AA isn't much different than Class AAA when you get to this level," said Allentown Central coach Laurie Corcoran. "They are all good when you get this far."
Allentown Central finished in a three-way tie with Maplewood and Brandywine Heights for first place in Pool A of the semifinal round robin, but were awarded the top seed after applying the tiebreaker formula.
Allentown Central opened with a 15-11, 15-5 win over Brandywine Heights, then defeated Huntingdon, 15-8, 15-4 in the second match. In the final match, Maplewood rallied to defeat Allentown Central, 7-15, 15-13, 15-10.
Sweep
Merion Mercy won all three matches in Pool B. The Lady Golden Bears recorded a 15-3, 15-5 win over Daniel Boone, then defeated Philipsburg-Osceola 13-15, 15-6, 15-9, and closed the day with a 15-12, 15-9 win over Grove City.
Farrell, the defending Class A champion, won all three matches in its semifinal round robin.
The Steelers opened with a 4-15, 15-8, 16-14, win over Berlin Brothersvalley, then beat Williamson, 15-7, 15-4, and concluded with a 15-5, 15-4 win over Marian Catholic.